DENSITY AND DIVERSITY OF NONTARGET INSECTS KILLED BY SUBURBAN ELECTRIC INSECT TRAPS

Our survey of insects electrocuted during routine use of electric inse ct traps revealed only 31 biting flies, a minute proportion (0.22%) of the 13,789 total insects counted. In contrast, species from 12 orders and more than 104 nontarget insect families, including 1,868 predator s and parasites (13.5%) and 6,670 nonbiting aquatic insects (48.4%) we re destroyed. The heavy toll on nontarget insects and the near absence of biting flies in catches suggests that electric insect traps are wo rthless for biting fly reduction - and probably are counterproductive - to homeowners and other consumers.